Greats of Glenelg
The prestigious title was established as the highest official honour at the Glenelg Football Club that can be bestowed upon its Players and or Officials.
The Greats of Glenelg have been “dedicated servants of the club”. Each of the 16 men who make up this elite group has a profound, permanent impact on The Glenelg Football Club.
Nick Chigwidden
2019 Great of Glenelg Inductee
First inducted into the Glenelg Football Club Hall of Fame, Nick Chigwidden was elevated to a ‘Great of Glenelg’ in 2019, following the Club’s Premiership success. Nick’s career at the Club includes playing 293 games between 1987-2000, holding the record for the longest serving Captain for the Club (1993-2000) and winning 4 consecutive Best & Fairest medals in 1991-1994. Chigwidden has been awarded Player Life Member status for the Glenelg Football Club and the SANFL. Chigwidden holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) and is currently a Director of PhysioXtra.
Laurie Rosewarne
2015 Great of Glenelg Inductee
Laurie Rosewarne for over 40 years has given extensive service to the Glenelg Football Club not only through his playing and coaching career but also through various administrative roles within the club. Laurie’s playing career spanned from 1965 – 1973 when he played 169 games, kicked 18 goals and was Vice-Captain from 1972 – 1973. Throughout Laurie’s time at Glenelg Football Club he has been Assistant Secretary, on the Management Committee, Youth Coaching Director, Under 19 coach, General Manager of the Football Club, on the Board, Member and Chairman of the Past Players and Officials Committee and part of the Hall of Fame Selection committee. Laurie was awarded the honour of Great of Glenelg at our Hall of Fame Dinner and 1985/86 Premiership Reunion. Congratulations Laurie – A well deserving recipient of this prestigious honour.
Tom Gleghorn
2013 Inductee for Outstanding Service and Dedication
Thomas Gleghorn was born in 1925, in Thornley, England. Three years later, he emigrated with his family to the town of Warner’s Bay, on the shores of Lake Macquarie in NSW.
Thomas worked as an artist designer for Grace Bros, then for Farmers, Sydney, director of Blaxland Galleries, Sydney, taught at the National Art School, Sydney in 1960, was Head of Canberra Art School, Lecturer in Art, the senior lecturer at Bedford Park Teachers College, Adelaide.
For almost 50 years Tom has consistently won a multitude of art prizes; his works are represented across Australia, from regional and state galleries, to National Gallery of Australia. Corporate collections include IBM, ICC, State Bank, Perth, Sydney, London and Hong Kong.
Thomas was honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the arts as a painter and teacher. Thomas’s enduring love of art is matched by his love of good food and wine.
A much-loved, humble character of the Glenelg Football Club, Thomas Gleghorn has strongly contributed to the club over the years by donating paintings and designing wine labels that have raised substantial funds. Tom was awarded the honour of Great of Glenelg at our Hall of Fame and 1973 premiership and 40th anniversary Dinner.
Graeme Bignell
President from 1986 – 89. Long Time Vice President. Major Benefactor of the Glenelg Football Club.
A successful businessman and strong leader Bignell had a solid partnership with Graham Cornes when he was President in those halcyon years in the mid to late 1980s. A benefactor of Glenelg Football Club. Graeme is a retired businessman and was chairman of automotive retailer Adtrans Group, the company he founded, for 23 years until 2011. Mr Bignell has had a long and distinguished career in the automotive industry, having established Stillwell Ford in Adelaide in 1971.
Tom Bonnily
Chairman Management Committee 1965 – 77
SANFL Management Committee in 1970s
Glenelg Vice President since 1978
League Life Member
Glenelg Life Member 1974
Made his name as a Toyota dealer but played a major part in the rise of Glenelg. Tom was also chairman for 13 years in the 1960s and ’70s. Also was involved in key years of SANFL development when Football Park was established.
Dr Owen Bowering
Medical Practitioner 1949 – 82
AMA President in SA
Glenelg Life Member 1959
An absolute gentleman who was a key part of the Glenelg Football Club for more than three decades as medical officer. His son Richard later carried on the tradition as club doctor.
Warren Brown
Committee 1950 – 58
Vice President 1959 – 88
Life Member 1959
Vice Patron 1980 – 88
Gave everything for the Glenelg Football Club. A man with a quick wit, he was loved by the players, whom he frequently entertained.
Peter Carey
Played an SANFL record 448 games and kicked 251 goals for Glenelg between 1971 – 88
Best and Fairest 1975 – 79 – 81
Leading goal kicker 1973 (70)
Kicked 11 goals against North Adelaide at Glenelg in 1973
Captain 1983 – 88
All Australian in 1979 – 80
Played 19 State Games
First Fos Williams Medallist in 1981
Life Member in 1980
What can you say about Peter Carey? The nickname “Super” says it all. A legend on the playing field, he is the only man to play in three Glenelg Premierships, kicking six goals from centre half-forward in the 1973 grand final, then leading from the front as an inspirational skipper in 1985-86.
Graham Cornes
Played 317 games and kicked 347 goals for Glenelg between 1967 – 82
Played 47 games for South Adelaide in 1983 – 84
Played five games and kicked 10 goals for North Melbourne in 1979
Glenelg best and fairest 1968, 1972, 1974
Leading goalkicker 1977 (72)
Captain 1978
Life Member in 1976
Glenelg Coach 1985 – 1990
Winning Premierships in 1985 – 86 also making grand finals in 1987 – 88 and 1990.
Played 21 State games
All Australian in 1979 and 1980
Won Tassie Medal in 1980
Simpson Medal in 1979
State Captain in 1978
State Coach 1986 – 88 / 1992 – 95 / 1999
Named All Australian coach in 1987 – 88
Had an incredible 6 – 2 win loss record against Victoria in State of Origin matches
Adelaide’s inaugural coach 1991 – 94 taking club to 1993 preliminary final
When Cornes was at the Bays, success never seemed far away. In his first season in 1967 Glenelg emerged from the wilderness under Neil Kerley to play in the finals. In 1969 and 70 he played in grand finals and victory in the one that counted finally came in 1973 – when Cornes leapt for his historic mark and booted the goal that gave Glenelg the lead in the dying minutes. His other grand finals as a player ended in heartbreak but in 1985, Cornes – after two years as South Adelaide coach – returned to the Bay and led the club to successive premierships.
Ray Curnow
Played 88 league games for Glenelg between 1931 – 38
Colts Coach 1939 – 40
Coach 1941 – 45 – 46 – 48
Coach West Glenelg 1943 – 44
Management Committee 1939 – 53
Deputy Chairman 1949 – 53
Secretary 1954 – 72
Life Member 1941
An integral part of Glenelg from the time he debuted in the reserves in 1929 until his death in 1976, the club could not have had a more loyal servant. Player, coach, committee man and secretary, he contributed to the Bays in just about every way.
John H Ellers
President from 1968 – 80
Life Member 1977
“John H. Ellers is his name.” It was the catch cry for one of SA’s best known Holden dealerships and it became a significant part of Glenelg’s great years of the late 1960’s and 70’s. President for 12 years in an era which saw Glenelg grow from a “social club” to one of the best football clubs in the country and something of a trend setter, being the first club to appoint a board of directors, the first to offer full membership to Women and first to appoint a full-time director of youth coaching. A great benefactor, he died in 2001.
Reg Hopgood
Reserves Trainer 1930 – 34
Head Trainer 1935 – 79
Life Member 1944
Legendary head trainer who treated countless Glenelg footballers on his dining room table in Bath St. It was not unusual for him to have three to five players at his house at one time, his treatment most often being with thumbs, hot water and towels and usually very effective.
Neil Kerley
Played 59 games and kicked 37 goals for Glenelg between 1967 – 69
Captain Coach 1967 – 69
Coach 1967 – 76
Best and Fairest 1967
Glenelg Life Member 1976
The man who turned Glenelg from a social club into one of the most feared football clubs in the nation in a magnificent 10 year coaching career in which the club reached five grand finals and won the 1973 premiership.
Harry Kernahan
Played 176 games and kicked 149 goals for Glenelg between 1959 – 65 and 1969 – 71
Captain 1964
10 State Games
Leading goal kicker 1960 (29)
Life Member 1971
Assistant Coach 1971 – 72
Secretary / General Manager 1973 – 87
A ruckman who played 176 games for the Tigers from 1959-71 and captained the club, he was reserves coach in 1971-72 before being secretary/general manager from 1973-87 – a highly successful era in which Glenelg won three premierships.
Barry Mair
Colts Committee 1960 – 64
Second 18 Committee 1965
A grade Committee 1966 – 68 / 1974 – 77
Chairman Management Committee 1978 – 80
SANFL Second 18 secretary 1969 – 73
Glenelg Life Member 1975
Progressed from grass roots to chairman in a complete involvement with the club he loved.
George Rigelsford
Colts Committee 1954 – 59
Committee of Management 1962 – 65
Second 18 Committee 1960 – 64
Glenelg Football Club Treasurer 1965 / 1967 – 85
Life Member 1964
The long serving treasurer became an institution at the club, where he would be seen at every function and every game.
John Robinson
Junior Colts Coach 1960
Senior Colts Coach 1961 – 62
Selector 1967 – 71 – Chairman of Selectors
Management Committee 1976 – 95
Chairman 1987 – 95
Life Member 1975
Started as a player at the Bay in 1957 and has been seen in a variety of roles since – junior and senior colts coach, selector, chairman of selectors, committee man and chairman from 1987-95. A member of the Hall of Fame selection committee for the past 12 years.
Alf Wadham
Vice President 1956 – 58 / 1964 – 89
Vice Patron 1980 – 89
Life Member 1972
He played three league games for the club in 1922 before becoming a Vice-president for nearly 30 years and Vice-patron from 1980-89. A marvellous benefactor.
